{"id":2184,"date":"2018-03-12T07:00:09","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T11:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/?p=2184"},"modified":"2018-02-17T08:12:08","modified_gmt":"2018-02-17T13:12:08","slug":"the-different-languages-in-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/the-different-languages-in-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"The Different Languages in Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Israeli\u00a0population is a linguistically diverse community.\u00a0The state of Israel absorbs immigration daily, and thus we have many languages spoken in one small country.<\/p>\n

According to Ethnologue<\/em><\/a> there are 37 languages in Israel. For comparison, there are only 24 in Germany, 15 in Spain, 12 in Switzerland.<\/p>\n

Language (feminine) = \u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e4\u05b8\u05d4<\/p>\n

Languages = \u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e4\u05d5\u05ba\u05ea<\/p>\n

Official (to describe masculine noun) = \u05e8\u05c5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05c5\u05d9<\/p>\n

Official (to describe feminine noun) = \u05e8\u05c5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05c5\u05d9\u05ea<\/p>\n

\u05d9\u05c5\u05e9\u05b0\u05c2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05c5\u05d9\u05dd \u05e8\u05b7\u05d1\u05c5\u05bc\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05c5\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e4\u05d5\u05ba\u05ea.<\/p>\n

Many Israelis speak several languages.<\/p>\n

The Hebrew language consists of patterns. Every word is a root formed into familiar pattern. The patterns are divided to two: those that shape the roots<\/a> into verbs (called \u05d1\u05e0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd<\/a>) and those that shape the roots<\/a> into nouns (called \u05de\u05e9\u05e7\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd). They attach prefix and\/or suffix to the root, and add meaning to it. The pattern for languages in Hebrew, for example, always attach the suffix \u05d9\u05ea to the root. While languages names in English are diverse in shape, in Hebrew almost all of them end the same: \u05e2\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea (Hebrew), \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d5\u05b6\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea (Swedish), \u05e6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea (French), \u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea (Bulgarian), \u05e2\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea (Arabic), \u05d9\u05b8\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea (Japanese), and so on. (There are very few exceptions, as you\u2019ll see at the end of the post).<\/p>\n

English <\/strong>\u05d0\u05b7\u05e0\u05b0\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea<\/strong><\/p>\n

Palestine was seized by the British government during World War I until 1948. The main law governing language policy in Israel was issued in 1922 by the British government. The British respected the local languages, but also put their formal language to use. The 82nd<\/sup> paragraph of the \u201cPalestine\u00a0Order in Council\u201d for the\u00a0British Mandate of Palestine says:<\/p>\n

\u201cAll Ordinances, official notices and official forms of the Government and all official notices of local authorities and municipalities in areas to be prescribed by order of the High Commissioner, shall be published in English, Arabic and Hebrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most laws of the British Mandate were adopted in the State of Israel, including this one. But many of them were subject to amendments by the Israeli government. The amendment of this law was published in 19 May 1948 and states that:<\/p>\n

\u201cAny provision in the law requiring the use of the English language is repealed. \u201d<\/p>\n

And yet, most of the signs, notices, and publications in Israel are still published in English as well. For most of the Israelis, English is their second language. Their first mandatory English class is in elementary school. I started in fourth grade, but nowadays most schools begin teaching English in second grade. In order to matriculate to an Israeli university or college, one must pass a high school English exam. In order to graduate from an Israeli university or college, one must pass the English test of The Israeli National Institute for Testing and Evaluation, or enroll English class in his academic institution.<\/p>\n

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Hebrew, Arabic & English on a chocolate bar wrapping (photo by Ayana)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e4\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05dc\u05c5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05c5\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b7\u05e0\u05b0\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea.<\/p>\n

My second language is English.<\/p>\n

Arabic <\/strong>\u05e2\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea<\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the Israeli government cancelled the British requirement to use English in official documents, only two official languages were left: Hebrew and Arabic. Arabic is an official language that is widely spoken in Israel. The Israeli population is estimated to be 8.6 million people (as of April 2017). 20% of them are Arabic (around 1.8 million people), the largest minority in Israel.<\/p>\n

The Israeli curriculum requires schools to teach a third language. English studies, as mentioned above, are mandatory in elementary school, high school and university. Another language \u2013 Arabic or French \u2013 is mandatory only for three years during junior high school. Every institution has the right to choose the third language it wants to teach, between French and Arabic. My school, for example, chose Arabic, and so I learned Classis Arabic beginning at seventh grade. Unfortunately, I don\u2019t remember much.<\/p>\n

\"\"

No smoking sign (photo by Ayana)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u05e2\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4\u05c5\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e4\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e8\u05c5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05c5\u05d9\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05c5\u05de\u05b0\u05d3\u05c5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05c5\u05e9\u05c2\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc.<\/p>\n

Arabic is an official language in The State of Israel.<\/p>\n

Hebrew <\/strong>\u05e2\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hebrew ceased to be an everyday spoken language around second century CE. Aramaic became the Jewish secular language for daily use, while Hebrew became a holy language, and had been limited to prayers, religious studies, rabbinic literature and poetry. Hebrew was revived as a spoken language in the 19th<\/sup> century by the Zionist Movement. Nowadays, Hebrew is the primary language in the State of Israel, and the main language used for communication. Almost the entire population speaks it, either as native speakers or as a\u00a0second language.<\/p>\n

\u05e9\u05c2\u05b0\u05e4\u05b7\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05dc\u05c5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05c5\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e2\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea.<\/p>\n

My mother tongue is Hebrew.<\/p>\n

\u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d9\u05c5\u05e9\u05c2\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d9\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05b5\u05d9 \u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e4\u05d5\u05ba\u05ea \u05e8\u05c5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05c5\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05ba\u05ea: \u05e2\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea.<\/p>\n

Israel has two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic.<\/p>\n

Russian <\/strong>\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05e1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the post-soviet Russian government opened the borders of the former Soviet Union, many Jews emigrated. Almost one million of them came to Israel between 1989-2006. The Russian immigrants successfully integrated into the Israeli society, while preserving their culture and language. Nowadays, Russian is the fourth spoken language in Israel, and appears frequently in public publications next to Hebrew, Arabic and English, even without being an official language.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Russian & Hebrew on a lawyer office door (photo by Ayana)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Hebrew, Arabic & Russian brochures in a local clinic (photo by Ayana)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u05d9\u05d5\u05ba\u05ea\u05b5\u05e8 \u05de\u05c5\u05de\u05c5\u05bc\u05d9\u05dc\u05b0\u05d9\u05d5\u05ba\u05df \u05d9\u05c5\u05e9\u05b0\u05c2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05c5\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b5\u05dd \u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05ba\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05e1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea.<\/p>\n

More than one million Israelis speak Russian.<\/p>\n

Amharic <\/strong>\u05d0\u05b7\u05de\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea<\/strong><\/p>\n

The immigration of Jewish Ethiopians to Israel began during the mid 1970s. So far, almost 100,000 Jews have left Ethiopia and come to Israel, bringing their culture and language with them. Since they are a smaller minority by size, Amharic doesn\u2019t receive the same impact as Russian does. However, you can still notice Amharic on public signs, notifications and handouts.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Five languages on one public sign (photo by Ayana)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u05d0\u05b7\u05de\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4\u05c5\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e9\u05c2\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05dc \u05e2\u05d5\u05ba\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4.<\/p>\n

Amharic is the language of Ethiopian immigrants.<\/p>\n

The Israeli population is diverse and interesting. As we\u2019ve mentioned above, there are many more than four spoken languages in Israel. Among them are Romanian (\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05de\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea), Yiddish (\u05d9\u05b4\u05d9\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1), Ladino (\u05dc\u05b8\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9), Polish (\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea), different Arabic dialects, etc. Each person has his own tongue, history and knowledge, and together we create a warm heterogeneous community.<\/p>\n

Keep Calm and Learn Hebrew<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

The\u00a0Israeli\u00a0population is a linguistically diverse community.\u00a0The state of Israel absorbs immigration daily, and thus we have many languages spoken in one small country. According to Ethnologue there are 37 languages in Israel. For comparison, there are only 24 in Germany, 15 in Spain, 12 in Switzerland. Language (feminine) = \u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e4\u05b8\u05d4 Languages = \u05e9\u05c2\u05b8\u05e4\u05d5\u05ba\u05ea Official (to…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":2189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2184","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grammar"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2184"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2194,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2184\/revisions\/2194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}